TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 294, 15 December 1899, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

♦ At the Commercial Congress, m Philadelphia, Great Britain received a striking recognition of her fair and equrable attitude towards the trade of the world. The American delegates submitted a resolution of protest against the exclusive spheres of influence established by the Great European Powers m China. Theso spheres, they contended, had the effect of shutting out American gocds from Chinese markets. Bug \lr Fember Keevee, the AgentQeneral for New Zealand, m Lnn don, protested that the resolution did serious injustice to this country, which stood alone m giving equal privileges to all the world. Mr Beeves' remarks were so obviously appropriate and so absolutely unanswerable (says the London Daily Ne^s), that the resolution was at once amended, so as to exempt England from censure. Much applause greeted this timely alteration. The cable to the English papers, on which the foregoing is founded, states that : " A dramatic incident occurred at the Congress during tho debate on trade relations with China. The American delegates submitted v resolution expressing apprehension at the policy of the Great European Powers m securing spheres of influence iv Chiua, wiiu the result of excluding American trade. Mr Reevep, the Agent-Gennral for New Zealand, warmly appealod to the Congress not to d au injustice to Great Britain, which stood al me among the countries of the world m giving p/jual trade privileges to all. Amid much applause the American delegates agreed to modify the wording of the resolution m accordance with Mr Reeves' suggestion. Perhaps no women, sars Miss Florence Nightingale (now m her 8 1st year), have seen so much of the horrors of war as she has. It can well be believed. The delicately nurtured woman who braved all the dangers of the Crimean campaign, and, by her heroic services, alleviated the sufferings of all who were engaged m tha 1 , great struggle, saved the lives of many, and earned the blessings of the sick and wounded as well as the gratitude of the oountry, has seen more of the dreadful tragedy of war than many men, let alone women, have seen. Even war, however, has a blessed side. In an interesting letter from her, which was read at the annual dinner to the survivors of the Baiaolava oharge, she pointed this out. In a few deft strokes she drew a touching pioture oi the gallantry of the TV'* f ish soldier: "See those manly fellows m time of war, man not near the beasts, as sometimes we too sadly see m the time of peace ; see theui not one taking a drop too much ; not one gallivanting with the women ; cv jry one devoting, aye, even his life for bin comrade, fetching his comrade off 'he field, without notice or praise from anyone, either m words or m print; and if killed m the attempt, his nam« ouly goes down as ' killed m battle ' ; always devoted *«yen to the death." And this is vhe moral Miss Nightingale draws : " Oh, if simh be war, we will not say, ' Let there always be war!' but blessed be war which m*kes such heroes of M'owehip out of war. Sad is the death of our comrades. But we may say, 'Duath comes not untimely to him who is fit to die. The briefer life, the earlier immortality !' And who would keep him back? Not even his wife." On the opening day of the term Mr Justice Barnes and the Trinity Masters were occupied m the Admiralty Division with a New Zealand salvage case. On the 31st May last the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamer Mauuri rounded Cape Horn all well m the course of her voyage from New Zealand to London with frozen meat and a general cargo, but on the 2nd June heavy weather and high seas were encountered, and the Mamari's tailend shaft broke m the stern tube. For three days the vessel managed as best she could without assistance, but on the sth the Greenook steamer Gulf of Coroovado went to her aid, and after a heavy towage over a distance of 640 miles took her into Monte Video. The total value of the property salvaged was £90,000, and out of this sum the owners, master, and crew of the Gulf of Oorcovado now olaimed salvage remuneration. Mr Butler Aspinall, Q. 0., and Mr A. E. Nelson were cornsel for the plaintiffs, the defendants being represented by Mr F. Laing, Q. 0., and Mr V. T. Hill. Mr Justice Barnes said that this very large and valuable property was at considerable risk, and might have been blown out to a very unfrequented part of the ocean. Taking all the circunstances into consideration, he thought a proper award was the sum of £4580, made up as follows:—Owners, £3500, master £350, and crew £650. Judgment was given accordingly for £4500, with costs.

i '■ A story of courage ml coolness com* 8 trom Spriagliurst, South Australia. A little lad, Edward Layden. son of a , porter <»t the locil railway station, was playing with his brother and thres-y-^ar 1 oil sinter, when the girl's clothes oaugHt on fire. Being some distance from her horn*, and with a strong wind blowing, th« child must have been quickly enveloped m flames but for the prompt action of her brother. He pulled ofl her burning pinafore, put out tbe flames on the aleevn. and, catching hold i f her burning Bfelrts, held them away from her legs whilst ho smothered out the flames, The girl was only slightly burnt, but the lad's hands were badiy injured, A belated Parliamentary paper shows the terms on whioh the Waikakahi and Starborougb estates were purchased. W-.ikakahi, South Qanteobury, WHB purchased at a cost of £6 los per acre ; the land tax value was £6 1U 8d per acr<\ The owner received £73,090 9i 7d m cash and £250,000 m debentures bearin c interest at tbe rate of 3JI per cent, per annum. Tbe owners of Star, b&rougb, Maryborough, received £350 In cash and £99,000 m debentures bearing interest at 3$ per cent, also, The debentures have » currency of ten years as from the Ist of April list.